Best cities for a water engineer
The best cities for water engineers are Sacramento, CA, Houston, TX, and San Francisco, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for water engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for water engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a water engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for water engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for water engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a water engineer. While the absolute best city for water engineers is Sacramento, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for water engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a water engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for water engineers in 2025
1. Sacramento, CA
Total water engineer jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $132,602 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location quotient: 11.88 2. Houston, TX
Total water engineer jobs: 43 Average annual salary: $104,911 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 5.27 3. San Francisco, CA
Total water engineer jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $133,022 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location quotient: 1.79 4. Lubbock, TX
Total water engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $104,642 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location quotient: 4.60 5. San Antonio, TX
Total water engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $105,129 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 1.87 6. Austin, TX
Total water engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $105,014 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 1.23 7. Dallas, TX
Total water engineer jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $103,953 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 2.25 8. New Orleans, LA
Total water engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $105,648 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Riverside, CA
Total water engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $120,374 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location quotient: 13.80 10. Las Vegas, NV
Total water engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $105,493 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location quotient: 0.00
Best cities for water engineers
- Sacramento, CA
- Houston, TX
- San Francisco, CA
- Lubbock, TX
- San Antonio, TX
- Austin, TX
- Dallas, TX
- New Orleans, LA
- Riverside, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- (18 water engineer jobs)
- (43 water engineer jobs)
- (13 water engineer jobs)
- (1 water engineer jobs)
- (4 water engineer jobs)
- (6 water engineer jobs)
- (10 water engineer jobs)
- (0 water engineer jobs)
- (6 water engineer jobs)
- (0 water engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a water engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $132,602 | $92,000 | 495,234 | 18 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $104,911 | $73,000 | 2,303,482 | 43 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $133,022 | $92,000 | 870,887 | 13 |
| 4 | Lubbock, TX | $104,642 | $73,000 | 252,506 | 1 |
| 5 | San Antonio, TX | $105,129 | $73,000 | 1,492,510 | 4 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $105,014 | $73,000 | 947,890 | 6 |
| 7 | Dallas, TX | $103,953 | $73,000 | 1,317,929 | 10 |
| 8 | New Orleans, LA | $105,648 | $73,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 9 | Riverside, CA | $120,374 | $84,000 | 324,722 | 6 |
| 10 | Las Vegas, NV | $105,493 | $73,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 11 | North Las Vegas, NV | $105,469 | $73,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 12 | Oakland, CA | $132,841 | $92,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 13 | Santa Ana, CA | $120,240 | $84,000 | 334,217 | 5 |
| 14 | Henderson, NV | $104,853 | $73,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 15 | Fremont, CA | $132,465 | $92,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 16 | Stockton, CA | $132,207 | $92,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 17 | Reno, NV | $111,311 | $77,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 18 | San Jose, CA | $132,190 | $92,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 19 | El Paso, TX | $105,427 | $74,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 20 | Fort Worth, TX | $104,069 | $73,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 21 | Arlington, TX | $104,050 | $73,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 22 | Los Angeles, CA | $121,278 | $84,000 | 3,976,322 | 8 |
| 23 | Irving, TX | $103,937 | $73,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 24 | Virginia Beach, VA | $104,254 | $74,000 | 452,602 | 7 |
| 25 | Garland, TX | $103,814 | $73,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 26 | Plano, TX | $103,738 | $73,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 27 | Albuquerque, NM | $102,332 | $71,000 | 559,277 | 1 |
| 28 | Fresno, CA | $129,643 | $90,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 29 | Corpus Christi, TX | $104,803 | $72,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 30 | Irvine, CA | $120,029 | $83,000 | 266,122 | 4 |
| 31 | Laredo, TX | $104,660 | $72,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 32 | Oklahoma City, OK | $96,027 | $68,000 | 638,367 | 1 |
| 33 | Phoenix, AZ | $96,276 | $67,000 | 1,615,017 | 8 |
| 34 | Tulsa, OK | $94,609 | $67,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 35 | Detroit, MI | $93,537 | $67,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 36 | Bakersfield, CA | $125,725 | $87,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 37 | Seattle, WA | $110,182 | $78,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 38 | Long Beach, CA | $120,521 | $84,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 39 | Anaheim, CA | $120,480 | $84,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 40 | Colorado Springs, CO | $100,457 | $70,000 | 465,101 | 5 |
| 41 | Denver, CO | $99,313 | $70,000 | 693,060 | 22 |
| 42 | Anchorage, AK | $94,591 | $70,000 | 298,192 | 2 |
| 43 | Lexington, KY | $92,097 | $66,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 44 | Philadelphia, PA | $88,555 | $63,000 | 1,567,872 | 6 |
| 45 | Portland, OR | $105,747 | $74,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 46 | San Diego, CA | $117,544 | $82,000 | 1,406,630 | 2 |
| 47 | Louisville, KY | $91,636 | $66,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 48 | Scottsdale, AZ | $96,333 | $67,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 49 | Tucson, AZ | $94,010 | $66,000 | 530,706 | 1 |
| 50 | Cleveland, OH | $77,957 | $56,000 | 385,809 | 3 |
Highest paying cities for water engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. water engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $133,022 |
| 2 | Corvallis, OR | $108,265 |
| 3 | San Antonio, TX | $105,129 |
| 4 | Virginia Beach, VA | $104,254 |
| 5 | Colorado Springs, CO | $100,457 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $96,276 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $94,403 |
| 8 | Kearny, NJ | $93,721 |
| 9 | Bowie, MD | $93,707 |
| 10 | Taylorsville, UT | $91,961 |
| 11 | New York, NY | $89,127 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $88,555 |
| 13 | Orlando, FL | $85,986 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $85,197 |
| 15 | Akron, OH | $78,035 |
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Updated January 8, 2025